Defense Secretary Orders Annual Testosterone Screenings for Service Members Over 30

Those diagnosed with deficiency may select testosterone replacement therapy, which service members have accessed through Tricare for years. Hegseth said in a video posted to X that levels often drop naturally with age. He stated the program will address health markers early to maintain readiness on the modern battlefield.

Hegseth added that the screenings ensure troops maintain the levels needed to operate at peak performance. "This initiative is not about artificial enhancement, it's about restoring and optimizing your natural capabilities, protecting your longevity, and ensuring you have the biological foundation required to sustain the fight," he said.

The American Urological Association estimates that roughly 2 percent of men may have testosterone deficiency.

Diagnosis requires symptoms or signs of low levels plus at least two separate early-morning total testosterone measurements. The Endocrine Society notes that levels decrease by about 1 percent each year after age 30. The Food and Drug Administration has not approved boosting testosterone in men with age-appropriate levels to improve strength or athletic performance.

The Pentagon did not specify acceptable thresholds or whether lower levels could affect assignments. No such screenings had formed part of annual military health assessments before the announcement.